Domestic Violence: A Pastoral Problem
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Date
2001-02
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
Being in Kenya for about four years, I have been involved in youth activities
in three different Catholic parishes of Nairobi. First, I was for one year with the
youths of Christ the King Catholic Parish in Line-Saba (Kibera). There I discovered
that the environment was not hostile to domestic violence. On the contrary, it was
even somehow promoting domestic violence, as people got used to seeing family
members fighting on the road.
Then, my community's members asked me to take care of the youth group
that was meeting twice a week in our compound (Don Bosco Utume, along
Dagoretti Road, halfway between Dagoretti Market and Karen Centre). There I
discovered that most of the youth coming from the neighbouring slums, Mutuini and
Karinde. were experiencing abusive situations in their respective homes.
In August 1999, I was sent to Dagoretti Corner Catholic Parish for my
weekend pastoral work. Here, my involvement and sharing of experiences with the
youth showed that some of them were deeply affected by violent situations in their
respective homes. At the same time, from different reports of the media, I perceived
domestic violence as being something occurring today in our midst more than ever.
At first. I tried to convince myself that I could do nothing to bring about a positive
change in this situation. However. I read in the book Salesian Youth Spirituality that
for us Salesians of Don Bosco, -To dream the impossible dream ... sums up the hope we carry deep within us."' This motive continuously pushed and encouraged
me in my weekly pastoral work. Abiding with this pastoral challenge, I started visiting
the youth's families thus making myself familiar with their family members. This
integration helped me to grasp more deeply the reality of domestic violence in these
families.
Description
Keywords
Domestic Violence, Pastoral Problem, Violence, Sexual Violence, Traditional view on Women